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enLethal Injection Ruling Draws Out Justices' Passionate Opinionshttp://wrkf.org/post/lethal-injection-ruling-draws-out-justices-passionate-opinions
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dealt a major blow to death penalty opponents, upholding the use of a controversial drug as part of a three-drug execution cocktail. The vote was 5-4, with unusually passionate and sometimes bitter opinions from the majority and dissenting justices.<p>For years, executions have been carried out with a three-drug cocktail. Previously, the first drug, sodium thiopental, has put the prisoner in a deep, comalike state so that he will not feel the extremely painful second and third drugs used to kill him.Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:32:00 +0000Nina Totenberg43259 at http://wrkf.orgLethal Injection Ruling Draws Out Justices' Passionate OpinionsNebraska Repeals Death Penalty, But U.S. Isn't Quite Ready To Abandon Ithttp://wrkf.org/post/nebraska-repeals-death-penalty-us-isnt-quite-ready-abandon-it
Nebraska's Legislature voted Wednesday to abolish the death penalty, overturning Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts' veto. The state's unicameral legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure in a series of three previous votes.<p>The repeal comes as other states have experienced complications with new lethal-injection cocktails.Wed, 27 May 2015 21:52:00 +0000Danielle Kurtzleben 41950 at http://wrkf.orgNebraska Repeals Death Penalty, But U.S. Isn't Quite Ready To Abandon ItIt's Sotomayor V. Roberts In Supreme Court Death Penalty Dramahttp://wrkf.org/post/its-sotomayor-v-roberts-supreme-court-death-penalty-drama
Lethal injection was the grim subject before the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday. Specifically at issue: whether the drug combinations currently used to execute convicted murderers in some states are unconstitutionally cruel.<p>The issue comes to the court after three botched executions over the past year.<p>In 2008, the high court upheld the use of a three-drug cocktail used by most states to administer the death penalty. The first drug, sodium thiopental, is an anesthetic used to put the prisoner in a deep comalike state.Wed, 29 Apr 2015 23:13:00 +0000Nina Totenberg40871 at http://wrkf.orgIt's Sotomayor V. Roberts In Supreme Court Death Penalty DramaUtah Brings Back Firing Squad Executions; Witnesses Recall The Last Onehttp://wrkf.org/post/utah-brings-back-firing-squad-executions-witnesses-recall-last-one
Last month, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill bringing back the firing squad as a method of execution. The state abandoned firing squads in 2004 but now, it has returned as the backup option — partly because of <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/03/11/392375383/states-scramble-to-deal-with-shortages-of-execution-drugs">a shortage of lethal injection drugs</a>, the state's default execution method.<p>Utah is now the only state in the U.S.Sun, 05 Apr 2015 23:17:00 +0000NPR Staff39871 at http://wrkf.orgUtah Brings Back Firing Squad Executions; Witnesses Recall The Last OneWith Judges Overriding Death Penalty Cases, Alabama Is An Outlierhttp://wrkf.org/post/judges-overriding-death-penalty-cases-alabama-outlier
When Courtney Lockhart was tried for murder in Alabama, the jury unanimously recommended a life sentence, but the judge overrode that recommendation and sentenced Lockhart to death instead. Now the convicted murderer is asking the state Supreme Court to examine Alabama's unique process of judicial override.<p>Alabama is an outlier. It's the only state in which judges routinely override jury decisions <em>not</em> to impose the death penalty.<p>Lockhart's journey through the Alabama judicial system began in 2008, after he carjacked and murdered Auburn University freshman Lauren Burk.Sun, 27 Jul 2014 19:08:00 +0000Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza29977 at http://wrkf.orgWith Judges Overriding Death Penalty Cases, Alabama Is An OutlierThe Executioner's Lamenthttp://wrkf.org/post/executioners-lament
In 1977, death row inmate Gary Mark Gilmore chose to be executed by a firing squad. Gilmore was strapped to a chair at the Utah State Prison, and five officers shot him.<p>The media circus that ensued prompted a group of lawmakers in nearby Oklahoma to wonder if there might be a better way to handle executions. They approached Dr.Thu, 08 May 2014 15:15:00 +0000Laura Sullivan26296 at http://wrkf.orgThe Executioner's LamentStates Swap One Drug For Another, And Botched Executions Followhttp://wrkf.org/post/states-swap-one-drug-another-and-botched-executions-follow
Oklahoma's botched execution of Clayton Lockett is prompting other states to question their use of the drug midazolam in lethal injections. The Lockett execution is fueling new calls to re-examine how states put inmates to death.Mon, 05 May 2014 20:02:00 +0000Greg Allen26160 at http://wrkf.orgDeath Penalty Drugs Bill Advanceshttp://wrkf.org/post/death-penalty-drugs-bill-advances
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;</span>If you can’t get lethal injection drugs, how do you impose the death penalty?</p><p>"We have the death sentence. Whether some of you agree with that or disagree with it, that's what we have,” said House Criminal Justice committee chairman Joe Lopinto. “If we're going to have that we need to be able, as a state, to follow through with that order."</p><p>Mon, 05 May 2014 08:00:00 +0000Sue Lincoln26105 at http://wrkf.orgDeath Penalty Drugs Bill AdvancesDeath Penalty Fades As Hot-Button Issuehttp://wrkf.org/post/death-penalty-fades-hot-button-issue
It's almost hard to remember how dominant an issue the death penalty was a generation ago.<p>Crime and drugs were the top issues for voters in 1994. Not coincidentally, support for the death penalty <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-voters-democratic-politicians-death-penalty-views-20140430,0,4667720.story#ixzz30TmgVfKy" target="_blank">peaked</a> that year, at 80 percent, according to Gallup polling.<p>Opposition to the death penalty once cost prominent politicians their jobs, from New York Democratic Gov.Fri, 02 May 2014 11:03:00 +0000editor26030 at http://wrkf.orgDeath Penalty Fades As Hot-Button IssueInsight: What Goes Up (for Debate) Often Comes Down http://wrkf.org/post/insight-what-goes-debate-often-comes-down
<p>A couple of high-profile bills were on the Louisiana legislature's docket in the past week, both were dashed. A proposal to allow for medical marijuana was rejected and the possibility for the return of the electric chair was commuted to a more palatable proposal for shielding suppliers of lethal injection drugs.</p><p></p><p>Fri, 02 May 2014 10:50:00 +0000Amy Jeffries & Melinda Deslatte26007 at http://wrkf.org